KEIGHLEY and Ilkley MP Robbie Moore has joined forces with a dog welfare charity to call on the Government to stop the illegal importation of puppies into the UK.

With big changes to pet travel after the Brexit transition period, Dogs Trust is urging MPs to help stop puppy smuggling by joining a new parliamentary Puppy Smuggling Taskforce.

Every year thousands of puppies are illegally imported into Great Britain then sold online to unsuspecting dog lovers, having been transported thousands of miles across Europe with little water, no food, exercise or toilet breaks.

Mr Moore said: “I am delighted to join the taskforce to tackle the abhorrent puppy smuggling trade. At a time when demand for dogs in the UK has never been higher, I want to urge my constituents to do their research before buying a puppy advertised for sale online, as it’s all too easy to be duped into buying a dog that’s been illegally smuggled into the country. "

Dogs Trust’s veterinary director Paula Boyden said: “Sadly, we continue to see more and more heart-breaking examples of puppies being illegally imported into the country. Puppy smugglers are making vast profits by exploiting innocent puppies, breeding and transporting them in appalling conditions to sell onto dog lovers here in the UK.

“We are grateful to Robbie Moore for his support in joining the parliamentary Puppy Smuggling Taskforce to stop this cruel trade.”